House tour: Modern Scandi-chic home

Silver and gold

1 / 10

Image by: Style at Home
By: Sara Cation
Source: Donna Griffith

When the holidays hit, homeowner Tara Ballantyne elevates her simple white, grey, brown and black palette with metallics like silver and gold. “I’m always trying new looks and trends for my work as a stylist, and because I think in colour so much for my job, I like to come home to a muted environment,” says Tara.

Natural gifts

2 / 10

Image by: Style at Home
By: Sara Cation
Source: Donna Griffith

Tara transformed a fallen birch branch into an unexpected advent calendar. Attached are small gifts like blocks and tiny toys, as well as atypical items like a mini tin of maple syrup. “On the day the boys unwrap the syrup, I’ll make them pancakes for breakfast,” says Tara. Holiday tip: Create your own DIY advent calendar. One is made with candles and the other with gifts hanging from a birch branch.

Naughty or nice

3 / 10

Image by: Style at Home
By: Sara Cation
Source: Donna Griffith

Tara and her husband, Paul, sit with the Ballantyne boys, Archer and Basil, who adore their teepee (a gift from Grandma) so much that they use it for both playing (nice!) and hiding (naughty!). Holiday tip: Use white paper stars in the front windows and simple white twinkle lights along the eaves and around some windows.

Simply perfect

4 / 10

Image by: Style at Home
By: Sara Cation
Source: Donna Griffith

Handmade details define Tara’s style, from the felt pinecone gift toppers to the heart-shaped tree ornament. Nothing here is overly Christmasy – even the garland. “I wear it as a necklace, too,” she says, ever thinking outside the holiday box. Holiday tip: Make your own ornaments or buy unique handmade ones from special places like a Christmas market or craft fair – that way, there’s a story for every ornament, and tree trimming is like opening a box of memories!

Make memories

5 / 10

Image by: Style at Home
By: Sara Cation
Source: Donna Griffith

Holiday tip: A hand-carved wooden ornament that was purchased at an open-air Christmas market in Norway. “Every year, when I unpack it, I’m immediately transported back to our time living there,” says Tara.

Strategic colour palette

6 / 10

Image by: Style at Home
By: Sara Cation
Source: Donna Griffith

Tara introduced pops of black to her home’s palette around the same time her twins arrived. “It allowed me to use more patterned black and white fabrics,” she says, “which are not only more rock ’n’ roll, but also better at hiding mess.”

Pick the wrapping

10 / 10

Image by: Style at Home
By: Sara Cation
Source: Donna Griffith

When shopping for wrapping paper, Tara grabs a basket, picks all the prints she loves and then takes a step back and assesses which are too similar and which don’t match, whittling the choices down to three or four papers. “I also hit end-of-season sales and select patterns that work for other holidays, too,” she says.